B Vitamins are necessary for the proper functioning of living cells and biochemical pathways in our bodies and play important roles.

They act as cofactors (keys, auxiliary molecules) for enzymes that are involved in many metabolic pathways in our bodies.

They are also necessary for the activation of various coenzymes (molecules that enhance the functions of enzymes).

Main Functions of B Vitamins in Our Body:

1. They are essential for energy metabolism; they are necessary for ATP synthesis in mitochondria.
2. They are involved in the oxidation of fatty acids in mitochondria.
3. They play a role in the synthesis of signal molecules (neurotransmitters) that mediate signal transmission between nerve cells in the brain.
4. They support the normal functioning of cell membranes and myelin sheath structures in nerve cells located in the brain and periphery, as well as the healthy functioning of signal transmission mechanisms in nerve cells.
5. They are necessary for DNA synthesis and DNA methylation.

Main B Vitamin Derivatives:

• Vitamin B1: Thiamine
• Vitamin B2: Riboflavin
• Vitamin B3: Niacin (Nicotinamide, Nicotinic Acid (NA))
• Vitamin B5: Pantothenic Acid
• Vitamin B6: Pyridoxine (Pyridoxal, Pyridoxamine)
• Vitamin B7: Biotin
• Vitamin B9: Folic Acid (active form: Tetrahydrofolate)
• Vitamin B12: Cobalamin

There are four distinct forms of Vitamin B12:

1. Cyanocobalamin
2. Methylcobalamin
3. Deoxyadenosylcobalamin
4. Hydroxocobalamin

If usage is necessary, methylcobalamin should be preferred over the cyanocobalamin derivative.

In children with autism, elevated Vitamin B12 levels are often observed. The medical reasons for this have not yet been fully clarified. However, it is anticipated to be related to epigenetic factors associated with Vitamin B12 metabolic pathways.

Random use of Vitamin B12 without measuring serum levels is undoubtedly one of the significant and common reasons for its elevation.

Please do not initiate random Vitamin B12 and other vitamins without a holistic medical evaluation of cases by a physician and necessary laboratory measurements in children with autism. Both deficiency and excess can be harmful. Maintaining medical biological balance (homeostasis) is essential for health.